MSR Itinerary                     July 2010

Sunday 4^th Highlands Ben Warden leading

10 am Whittlesea

First stop Broadford via Flowerdale and Strath Creek for morning tea after 67 km. Then north to Glenaroua and Seymour and up to the mists of Highland before descending to the sunshine of Yea for lunch after a further 96 km. The final leg will be up Junction Hill and across to Glenburn to finish at Kinglake at the Bakery after a further 52 km. Expect about 215 easy kilometres for the day.

Sunday 11^th Torbreck River (Jamieson Road) Cliff Peters leading

10 am Yarra Glen

Proposed route: Yarra Glen, Myers Creek, Chum Creek, Black Spur, and Marysville for morning tea after 80 km. Splash of fuel if there is any. Then Buxton, Taggerty, Jamieson Road to Torbreck River to the start of the dirt, then back to Eildon for lunch after 121 km. Home via the spectacular Fraser National Park views of Lake Eildon, Alexandra, Molesworth, and Yea to break up at Kinglake. Expect 320 km for the day. Ride will not suit inexperienced riders; not recommended for first time Club riders.

Sunday 18^th Trafalgar Poker Run Ben Warden leading

10 am Yarra Glen

The route will encompass a few roads the Club has not ridden on before! Other roads will be in the reverse direction to normal and feel new. First stop Noojee via Healesville and Powelltown after 80 km. Lunch is problematic on this ride so stock up on coffee and food here. On to Icy Creek, Willow Grove, Old Sale Road and the long way around to Yarragon. A smidge of highway then up to Childers (2 km of uphill sandy dirt) to Thorpdale and then around to Trafalgar for fuel and a break after another 109 km making 189 km total since last fuel. From Trafalgar we'll head back to Yarragon and then south up into the hills again, exploring all the naggery twisty roads until they become dirt - about 50 km worth, before resurfacing at Yarragon and working our way around through Lardner back to Drouin to breakup after another 82 km, making 270 km for the day. Chances are the roads will be wet and it will be cold. Dress accordingly! Poker: card every stop. Best hand gets membership paid (or a refund).

Sunday 25^th Mirboo North Tim Emons leading

10 am Berwick

From Berwick we'll head East through Longwarry and Willow Grove for morning tea in Moe just short of 120km. After making our way South to Coalville and Boolarra, we'll check out Morwell River Rd until the gravel starts, then backtrack and head into Mirboo North for lunch and fuel 190km from the start. In the spirit of Ben's famous loop, I've devised an optional 75km circuit, returning through Mirboo Nth to pick up those who opt for a longer lunch, before working our way up to Trafalgar and finish at Longwarry Nth after a further 90km. Total around 350km on a great variety of roads (with no dirt).

August 2010

Sunday 1^st Maldon Geoff Jones leading
10 am Whittlesea

Lancefield for morning tea via Flowerdale, Strath Creek, Broadford and Pyalong. Then up the Burke and Wills Track to Redesdale and across to Sutton Grange working our way west to the heritage town of Maldon. Fuel up at the Y junction and then wander the town in search of bakeries and pastries. Home via the gold digging country towns including Castlemaine, Chewton, Fryerstown, Mt Franklin (of the mineral water fame), Hepburn Springs, Spring Hill, Tylden, Trentham East, Woodend, Bolinda, and Wild Dog Road to finish under the Tullamarine airport flight path at Bulla, 20 minutes from the city. Huge variety of interesting roads and scenery. Around 320 easy km.

Thurs. 5^th Social Sip

7 pm Mark's Place, corner Grattan and Swanston Streets, Carlton

Collect your magazine and get all the news first. Catch up with your fanatical motorcycling enthusiast mates, share a cheap meal and still be home by 10.30 pm